ALBAWABA - According to local reports, at least 15 police officers have been killed in a shooting attack on two Orthodox churches and a synagogue in two cities in Dagestan.
UPDATE
The death toll has risen to 19, with four additional civilians reportedly killed. "According to preliminary data, 15 law enforcement officers were killed, as well as four civilians, including an Orthodox priest," the Investigative Committee said about Sunday's attack, adding that five perpetrators had also been "liquidated".
A priest and several other civilians were also killed when gunmen opened fire on places of worship in the cities of Derbent and Makhachkala, which are about 120 kilometers apart.
Head of Dagestan, Sergey Melikov, stated that six militants were also killed following the attacks on churches, synagogues and police posts in the cities of Derbent and the regional capital Makhachkala.
Large flames and thick plumes of smoke were seen shooting at a police car on the street from a building in Makhachkala, while footage taken through the window of a building in Derbent showed individuals dressed in black shooting at the vehicle.
The attacks, which come only three months after ISIS-K claimed responsibility for an attack at Moscow's Crocus City Hall that left over 140 people dead in one of the bloodiest attacks in Russia, have not yet been attributed to any group.
The shooters in Dagestan were described by Russian law enforcement services as "adherents of an international terrorist organization" by the state-run news agency TASS on Sunday.
Melikov stated in a post on Telegram that the "operational and combat measures in Makhachkala and Derbent" were completed but further investigations would continue.
"Operative search and investigative measures will be carried out until all participants of the sleeper cells are identified, which, undoubtedly, include some that were organized from abroad," he added.
